This is such a comprehensive thread - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! I'm currently 14 weeks pregnant with my first and already thinking about potential spacing for future children, so this has been incredibly educational. One thing I wanted to ask that I haven't seen mentioned yet: has anyone dealt with complications where you might need to go on pregnancy disability earlier than expected with the second pregnancy? I'm wondering if that could affect your base period earnings if you end up taking leave sooner than planned. Also, for those who successfully navigated back-to-back claims, did you find it helpful to work with your employer's HR department early in the process? I'm wondering if giving them advance notice about potential timing could help avoid any confusion with leave coordination or benefit administration. The spreadsheet idea and benefits estimate tip are going straight into my planning notes! It's amazing how much strategic thinking goes into family planning when you factor in all these benefit considerations. Wishing everyone smooth pregnancies and hassle-free EDD experiences! 🤞✨

This thread has been absolutely invaluable - thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences! I'm currently 7 months pregnant with my first and my husband and I have been discussing timing for a potential second baby. Reading through everyone's situations has really opened my eyes to how complex the SDI system can be with back-to-back pregnancies. The tip about requesting a benefits estimate from EDD is brilliant - I had no idea that was even possible! And I'm definitely going to start that earnings spreadsheet right away. It sounds like being super organized with documentation is crucial for avoiding delays and calculation errors. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen discussed much: has anyone had experience with different employers between pregnancies? I'm wondering if changing jobs between babies could complicate the base period wage calculations, especially if the new employer is slower to report wages to EDD. Also, for those who've been through this process, did you find it helpful to connect with other parents who had similar timing situations? This community seems so supportive and knowledgeable compared to trying to figure everything out alone! Sending positive vibes to everyone navigating these complex benefit situations while growing their families! 💕

I'm so grateful I found this thread! I'm 18 weeks pregnant and my husband just got a job offer in Florida that we're seriously considering. I was absolutely terrified about potentially losing my CA benefits if we moved, but reading everyone's experiences has given me so much relief. @Nia Harris your detailed breakdown of the steps was exactly what I needed - I'm saving it for reference! And all the practical tips from @Zainab Yusuf about taking screenshots and keeping documentation are so smart. After reading about @GalaxyGazer's struggles with EDD's system glitches, I definitely want to be extra careful with documentation. It's incredible that CA honors these benefits even after you move to another state. I've been paying into SDI for over 5 years, so it would have felt really unfair to lose those benefits just because of a move. Florida doesn't have state disability benefits like CA, so I'm really thankful I qualified here before this potential move. Thank you everyone for being so generous with sharing your experiences - this community is amazing! I'm going to start creating my moving checklist based on all the wonderful advice shared here. 🌴

Hi Zara! I'm new to this community but I'm in a very similar situation - 15 weeks pregnant and my partner just got an amazing job offer in Washington state. I was absolutely panicking about potentially losing my CA benefits until I found this thread! Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief. I had no idea that CA would honor benefits based on where you worked rather than where you currently live. I've been paying into SDI for 3 years here in CA, so it would have felt devastating to lose those benefits just because of a career opportunity. The practical advice from everyone has been incredible - especially about updating addresses with both EDD AND your employer's HR, taking screenshots for documentation, and keeping your CA bank account open during the transition. I'm definitely creating a detailed checklist based on all the wisdom shared here. Your timing with the February due date and mid-February move sounds stressful but manageable with proper planning! It sounds like as long as you stay organized with all the paperwork and address updates, you should be able to receive your full CA benefits even from Nevada. Thank you for starting this discussion - it's helped so many of us who are facing similar decisions! Best of luck with your move and congratulations on your first baby! 🍼✨

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Got the online error message yesterday and was starting to panic. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been so reassuring - it sounds like this glitch is way more common than I thought. I'm planning to call tomorrow morning at 8am with all my documents ready. Quick question for those who've been through this: did anyone have success using the online chat feature, or is calling really the only way to get this resolved? Also, should I keep trying to submit online while waiting to get through on the phone, or could that potentially mess things up? Thanks everyone for sharing your stories - this community is amazing! 🙏

I went through this exact same error about 3 months ago and it was so stressful! The good news is that this online glitch is super common and doesn't mean there's anything wrong with your application - their system just flags certain claims for manual review. Here's what worked for me: - Called exactly at 8am PT and got through in about 30 minutes - Had all my docs ready: SSN, employer info, employment dates, and since mine was medical leave, my doctor's contact info - The rep was actually really helpful once I got through - they manually processed it right on the call - Got my first payment about 10 days later One thing I wish I'd known: ask the rep for a reference number for your call and their name/ID. Also, if they tell you they're going to do something, ask when you should expect to see it happen. This saved me from having to explain everything all over again when I called back to check status. The waiting is definitely the worst part, but hang in there! The actual resolution is usually pretty straightforward once you reach a human. You've got this! 💪

Just wanted to chime in as someone who recently navigated this - all the advice here is spot on! I'll add one more tip that saved me: if you're having trouble with the EDD website being slow or timing out (which happens A LOT), try accessing it early in the morning like 6-7 AM or late evening after 8 PM. The site seems way less congested during off-peak hours. Also, once you do find and download the DE 2525FX form, take a few minutes to read through it completely before filling it out - some sections require documentation you might not have on hand, so it's better to gather everything first. The process can be overwhelming but this community is proof that we're all here to help each other through it! 💪

Adding to all the great advice here - another trick that's helped me is to use the EDD's main search bar at the top of their homepage. Just type "DE 2525FX" directly in there and it usually brings up the form as one of the first results. Also, if you're planning to submit the form online, make sure you create your EDD account ahead of time because that process can take a while to verify. And definitely keep a printed copy for your records - I learned the hard way that having a physical backup is super helpful if there are any questions about your submission later. The whole PFL process can feel overwhelming at first, but once you get the right forms and know where to find them, it gets much easier!

Just wanted to add some clarity based on my recent experience - I successfully used PFL for family bonding after leaving my job, but the key was timing. I filed my claim while still employed (about 2 weeks before my last day) and made sure to indicate that I was taking bonding leave. The EDD approved it because I was employed when the claim started, even though I quit shortly after. The important thing is that you need to show wage loss due to bonding time, not due to quitting. So if you're planning to quit anyway, definitely file your claim first while you're still working. Also, keep in mind you can take the bonding time intermittently throughout the first year - doesn't have to be all at once. Hope this helps!

Based on everyone's responses here, it sounds like the key is definitely timing - file your claim while you're still employed! I'm in a similar boat as the OP and was worried about losing out on benefits. @Juan Moreno your experience is really reassuring. Just to clarify though - when you filed while still employed, did you have to specify an exact start date for your bonding leave? Or were you able to leave that flexible since you can take it intermittently throughout the year?